Best WordPress Membership Plugins for 2024 (Free & Premium)

There is a lot of competition in the WordPress marketplace, but one thing that’s not in short supply is options for WordPress membership plugins. The great thing about using a membership plugin for your site is that it enables you to create an exclusive experience for your users. 

Whether you’re selling products or services, having a way to lock content away from regular visitors and only make it available to paying members can be highly beneficial. In this post, we’ll review some of the best membership plugins available for WordPress, highlighting their features and pricing.

Why Use a Membership Plugin for Your WordPress Website?

Membership plugins are one of the best features that you can add to your WordPress site to attract more clients and earn more money.

WordPress membership plugins come in many forms for all sites and purposes. Whether you want a simple plugin or something more complex that allows users to log in with their social media accounts to view gated content, there’s something out there for everyone!

For instance, the Membership plugin allows you to add payment options to your subscription website. This makes it easy for customers to subscribe to your site using PayPal, Stripe, or another third-party payment processor. 

Likewise, you can create multiple membership levels with different perks. For example, someone who pays $10 might get exclusive access to extra content, whereas someone who pays $25 gets access to free content and exclusive tools!

Read: Best WordPress Plugins for Successful Affiliate Marketers

List of the Best WordPress Membership Plugins 

Let’s get started with the best Membership plugins for WordPress. In this list, we will cover the features and pricing for each WordPress Membership plugins.

MemberPress: #1 WordPress Membership Plugin

MemberPress is the #1 WordPress plugin for managing memberships, paywalls, and online learning. It empowers website owners to monetize their WordPress sites through subscriptions, courses, paywalls, and community features. With its intuitive setup, MemberPress enables users to control content visibility, sell digital products and courses, and securely process payments via credit cards and digital wallets. 

Designed to offer the ultimate member experience, MemberPress helps users launch and thrive with their WordPress membership sites, ensuring seamless Integration and robust profitability.

Key Features

• Easy Setup
• Drip Content Feature
• Payment Gateways
• Third-party Integration
• Seamless Integration with bbPress and other WordPress forum plugins

Pricing: MemberPress offers four comprehensive plans tailored to different user needs:

• Basic: Priced at $179.50 per year, the Basic plan is ideal for beginners venturing into their first membership site.

• Plus: At $299.50 annually, the Plus plan caters to entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small businesses.

• Pro: Priced at $399.50 per year, the Pro plan is designed for seasoned professionals and advanced membership sites aiming for substantial growth and impactful results.

• Elite: With a price tag of $499.50 per year, the Elite plan is tailored for ambitious creators who demand top-tier features and support to achieve their membership site goals.

Learn more about: Best WordPress Support Forums

Paid Memberships Pro: WP Membership Plugin & Subscriptions Platform

Paid Memberships Pro is another excellent WordPress membership plugin for creating diverse membership structures, including multi-tiered memberships. It enables users to offer individual or group memberships linked to a single-paying parent account, facilitating flexible membership options. 

With features like content restriction, recurring payments, user registration, and custom profile fields, managing member subscriptions becomes seamless. Moreover, its easy integration with various WordPress plugins, page builders, and third-party services ensures a smooth user experience.

Key Features

• 100% GPL and Open Source
• WordPress Developer Friendly
• Customizable Member Dashboard
• Popular Payment Gateway Integration
• WordPress Multisite Compatibility

Pricing: The core plugin is free and comes with 29 free add-ons. Premium options include:

• Standard: Priced at $247 per year, this package is ideal for beginners and those managing DIY membership sites.
• Plus: For $397 annually, users gain access to enhanced features, making it suitable for developing advanced membership sites.
• Enterprise: The Enterprise package offers tailored solutions starting at $5,000 annually.

Restrict Content Pro: The Easiest Membership Plugin for WordPress

Restrict Content Pro simplifies WordPress membership management by locking exclusive content and granting access to valued members. Its lightweight eCommerce solution empowers users to easily build membership websites, offering quick theme integration options without the need for CSS skills. 

The plugin also automatically generates essential member pages, including Registration, Account, Edit Profile, and Update Billing Card pages. With comprehensive member management features, users can monitor active, pending, expired, or canceled member status via a single dashboard, ensuring efficient oversight of their membership base.

Key Features

• Create Unlimited Membership Levels
• Customer Dashboard
• Easy Paywall Setup
• Create Discount Codes and Coupons
• Custom Payment Gateways Integration
• Google reCAPTCHA

Pricing: It offers a free core WordPress plugin with basic functionality. For advanced features, it offers three premium plans:

• 1 Site: $99 per year
• 5 Sites: $149 per year
• Unlimited Sites: $249 per year

WishList Member: WordPress Membership Plugin

WishList Member provides a seamless membership solution with unlimited membership levels. Users gain access to all features upon sign-up, with compatibility across virtually any WordPress theme for flexible site design. You can configure unlimited membership levels with both free and paid permissions to suit specific needs. 

Integration with a full REST API and WordPress template tags also enables custom coding for automated membership workflows. Moreover, the platform offers CourseCure for easy creation of engaging online courses, quizzes, and more.

Key Features

• Simple Setup
• Complete Content Control
• Accept Payments from 20+ Payment Providers
• Seamless CRM Integration
• Top-notch Security & Performance

Pricing: This WordPress membership plugin offers four premium plans:

• Basic $149.50/year
• Plus $249.50/year
• Pro $349.50/year
• Elite $1,199.50/year

AccessAlly: The All-In-One WordPress Membership Plugin

AccessAlly is a comprehensive WordPress membership plugin that offers seamless membership management through tag-based control and deep CRM integration. Whether you prefer minimal integrations or comprehensive functionality, this plugin allows unparalleled flexibility in structuring and designing your membership site.

With tag-based permissions, you can manage access across multiple membership levels, allowing members to upgrade or downgrade autonomously. Subscription plans are also automatically prorated for convenience. In addition, the two-way CRM integration ensures personalized member experiences, fostering deeper engagement.

Key Features

• All Kinds of Membership Levels
• Cross-Selling Member Dashboards
• Membership Management Tools
• Recurring Payment Options
• Dripped Content & Live Releases Feature

Pricing: AccessAlly offers three pricing tiers to cater to various business needs:

• Essentials: This plan, priced at $82/per month, is tailored for small businesses and solopreneurs seeking essential membership features.

• Pro: At $108 per month, the Pro plan is designed for online educators and marketers and offers advanced tools.
• Community: For $124/per month, the Community plan caters to coaches, educators, and community leaders, providing comprehensive features.

Simple Membership Plugin

The Simple Membership Plugin is a WordPress membership solution that allows you to easily protect both free and premium content. It is user-friendly and offers extensive documentation that lets you quickly set up membership sites and charge for access to tutorials, videos, ebooks, and courses. 

With the ability to create multiple membership access levels, such as Free, Silver, and Gold, you can selectively protect your content. Additionally, the plugin is translation-ready, ensuring accessibility for users worldwide by facilitating easy translation into different languages.

Key Features

• Unlimited Access Levels
• Content Protection
• Shortcodes Ready
• Payment Gateway Integration
• Developer API

Pricing: This is a free membership plugin with paid support that costs $39 for troubleshooting 1 issue per ticket.

MemberMouse: Enterprise Level Membership Plugin for WordPress

MemberMouse is the ultimate enterprise-level membership plugin for WordPress. It is easy to use, flexible, and powerful. With solutions tailored for various industries, including community, coaching, business, entrepreneurship, development, health, fitness, financial education, and course creation, MemberMouse supports millions of members worldwide.

It allows you to quickly sell a wide range of products, from memberships to courses and physical goods. You can also protect member-only content using customizable access controls. Furthermore, MemberMouse makes building engaging courses effortless with the Courses for MemberMouse feature.

Key Features

• Drag-and-drop Visual Builder
• Custom Login Page
• Affiliate Support and Integration
• Integration with 3rd Party Systems
• Reporting and Analytics Tools

Pricing: Choose the perfect plan for your membership needs with MemberMouse’s flexible pricing options:

• Basic: Priced at $199.50 per year, this plan offers essential tools for building your membership site.
• Plus: At $299.50 annually, the Plus plan is ideal for businesses looking to expand their membership offerings.
• Pro: For $399.50 per year, the Pro plan provides everything you need to create a flawless membership experience.
• Elite: The Elite plan, priced at $1,199.50 per year, offers a premier solution tailored for savvy business owners.

MemberDash: Flexible Membership Plugin for WordPress

MemberDash is the most flexible membership plugin for WordPress, enabling users to monetize content and foster community engagement. With flexible membership options, users can offer various subscription types and grant different access levels to premium content. Content restriction is also easy so that users can restrict access to any specific pages/posts or categories based on membership levels. 

Further, this plugin seamlessly integrates with LearnDash. So, users can leverage their membership site to offer courses created with the leading WordPress LMS. What’s more, the billing management feature and coupons enable you to customize invoicing and provide promotional offers to attract new members.

Key Features

• Simple Account Management
• Customizable Settings
• Built-in Reporting
• Built-in Integration with MailPoet, WPML, and WP Recaptcha
• Integration with Multiple Payment Gateways

Pricing: Choose the ideal plan for your membership needs with MemberDash:

• 1 Site: Access for one site at $199/per year.
• 10 Sites: Manage up to 10 sites with a yearly subscription of $399.
• Unlimited: Enjoy unlimited access to all your sites for $799/per year.

Ultimate Member: User Profile & Membership WordPress Plugin

Ultimate Member is a comprehensive membership and community plugin for WordPress. It boasts user profiles, registration, member directories, content restriction, and seamless integration with Stripe for paid subscriptions.

With over 200,000 active installs, Ultimate Member equips users with everything needed to build vibrant online communities or private membership websites within WordPress.

Key Features

• Member Directories
• User Profiles and Login
• Account Management
• User Roles and Registration
• Content Restriction

Pricing: Ultimate Member offers two comprehensive plans:

• Extensions Pass: Priced at $249 per year, this plan grants access to all premium extensions. It offers unlimited site licenses and updates and email support for one year.

• Extensions + Theme Pass: For $299 annually, users receive access to all extensions and the theme. Plus, they get an unlimited site license, updates, and email support for one year.

ARMember: Premium WordPress Membership Plugin

ARMember is a turn-key premium WordPress membership plugin offering an array of membership-related functionalities. With all membership features consolidated under one roof, it provides a user-friendly experience for various membership businesses, including business consulting services, online courses and tutoring, corporate training and networking, and creative industry sites. 

This plugin also caters to diverse needs, enabling users to sell digital content like podcasts, graphic designs, and templates through custom membership plans. Thus, making it an indispensable tool for monetizing content and building thriving online communities.

Key Features

• Drip/Periodic Content Functionality
• Built-in Form Builder
• Directory Templates
• Built-in Security Option
• Exclusive Coupon Management
• WooCommerce Content Restriction

Pricing: ARMember Pro is priced at $69 and comes with lifetime updates, unlimited membership plans, and six months of support. 

WP-Members: Free WordPress Membership Plugin

WP-Members is a free WP membership plugin that offers essential features like content restriction and custom registration. With over 60,000 active installations, it simplifies the process of creating membership sites. While easy to install and configure, WP-Members is also highly customizable and scalable.

Users can restrict content to registered users, and with over 120 action and filter hooks, they can create powerful customizations. Additionally, a library of API functions enhances extensibility, making WP-Members a versatile choice for WordPress users.

Key Features

• Restrict/hide Posts, Pages, and Custom Post Types
• Limit Menu Items
• User Login and Registration
• Notify Admin of New User Registrations
• Create Post Excerpt Teaser for Content Automatically

Pricing: Free

SureMembers: WordPress Membership Plugin

SureMembers is the fastest and most user-friendly WordPress membership plugin that makes it effortless to grow membership sites. It ensures secure content management, whether it’s unique content creation, exclusive services, or premium product offerings. 

Versatile and adaptable, SureMembers is suitable for bloggers, agencies, podcasters, influencers, and eCommerce experts. It also seamlessly integrates with popular WordPress plugins and tools such as Elementor, TutorLMS, LearnDash, and Divi.

Key Features

• Easy Content Paywalls
• Drip Feed Content
• Custom Access Rules
• Secure Digital Downloads
• Menu Item Visibility
• Sell Online Courses

Pricing: SureMembers offers three subscription plans:

• Pro: $69/per year for use on 1 site, tailored for bloggers, individuals, and solopreneurs.
• Business: $99/per year for use on 5 sites, ideal for freelancers, businesses, and professionals.
• Agency: $149/per year for use on 10 sites, perfect for agencies and professionals managing multiple clients.

WooCommerce Memberships Plugin for WordPress

WooCommerce Memberships transcends traditional content restriction plugins by offering a site-wide membership solution that seamlessly integrates with your online store. Whether you’re running a membership association, online magazine, elearning platform, or any other membership-based business, WooCommerce Memberships provide access control to content, products, and member discounts. 

While fully functional as a stand-alone membership solution, it also works exceptionally well with WooCommerce Subscriptions, the most advanced eCommerce recurring payments solution. Together, they can empower you to create robust membership systems that enhance user experience and drive revenue growth.

Key Features

• Sell or Assign Memberships
• Drip Content Feature
• Create Members-only Products
• Create Rewards for Members with Special Discounts
• Import or Export Members

Pricing: This plugin costs $16.59/per month and is billed annually at $199.

Related: Best WooCommerce Plugins

ProfilePress: Modern WordPress Membership Plugin

ProfilePress is a modern WordPress membership plugin that offers versatile solutions for building paid membership sites, selling digital products, and managing content access. With robust eCommerce capabilities, it facilitates accepting both one-time and recurring payments. 

With this plugin, users can sell various digital products, from images and videos to eBooks and software, without technical complications. Moreover, ProfilePress seamlessly integrates with popular learning management systems like LearnDash, Sensei LMS, LifterLMS, and Tutor LMS, enabling users to create engaging online course websites.

Key Features

• Beautiful & Customisable Templates
• Content & Access Restriction
• Forms, User Profiles & Member Directories
• Easy Paywall Setup
• Payment Integration with Stripe, PayPal, and Razorpay

Pricing: ProfilePress offers three plans:

• Standard: $129/per year for use on 1 site.
• Plus: $299/per year for use on 3 sites.
• Agency: $499/per year for unlimited site usage

Conclusion

Exploring the myriad options available for WordPress membership plugins can be daunting, but we trust this comprehensive list has simplified your search. Each plugin offers unique features tailored to diverse needs. Whether you’re a blogger, entrepreneur, agency, or eCommerce guru, there’s a plugin designed to streamline content management, user access, and monetization. 

Creating and managing membership sites becomes a seamless and rewarding experience with these tools. So, we hope this list empowers you to build a WordPress membership website with ease.